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7yo won't engage at dad's house

12 replies

flummingbird · 05/11/2023 21:56

We're absolutely stuck and don't know where to start. NC as could be recognisable.

Ex and I split 5 years ago when DD was 2. Relatively amicable (he had affair so not great but more than civil), always been able to communicate re DD. All has been fine re his contact, she's stayed at his 5 nights in 14 for the last 5 years with no problems. He does school drop off and pick up on his days. Just trying to show its all been fine until recently.

In January he remarried (she and her now 9yo DD moved in approx 3 years ago, all seemed fine etc, girls share a room with usual niggles but been ok) and I moved house at the same time. Since roughly then he says she doesn't engage at his house. Nothing drastic at first so I wasn't told, but the last 2 or 3 months it's got dramatically worse to the point she just doesn't speak to stepmum or step sister, sits staring blankly, doesn't participate, one word answers, that kind of thing. It's got to the point where it's causing massive ructions there and she's essentially being sent back to me as it's so difficult there.

He's not the best at emotions so will try and talk his way round it like he's in a boardroom, big words, not really kid friendly way of tackling it. If I try and talk to her about it she totally clams up. When either of us have managed to get anything out of her she says everything is fine, she wants to go there, doesn't know why she doesn't speak, and generally clams up again. She's 100% "normal" with me and the rest of the family, chirpy, chatty, nothing like at his. What the hell do I do?? Stop her going for a while? Keep sending her and hope she comes round? Another option?? I want her to have a great relationship with them as I didn't have that with my own dad. I just don't know how to tackle it!!

TLDR: she won't engage at her dad's but says she wants to keep going. What do we do?

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 05/11/2023 23:06

Does she engage if it's just DD and her DF? Does she get any alone time with him?

flummingbird · 05/11/2023 23:58

Not an awful lot I don’t think. He’s lazy, if he can not play with her and leave the two girls to play he will. I’ve said this but can’t seem to get through and can’t see it changing.

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 06/11/2023 07:46

flummingbird · 05/11/2023 23:58

Not an awful lot I don’t think. He’s lazy, if he can not play with her and leave the two girls to play he will. I’ve said this but can’t seem to get through and can’t see it changing.

That's more or less what I expected. Some men are awful aren't they?

Also, why is it causing rows? I find that really strange. I don't think your DD feels welcome in their home.

flummingbird · 06/11/2023 08:28

I believe its causing rows because the adults don't know what to do and they're trying to fix it. Wife doesn't really want her there due to atmosphere, its her she won't speak to the most so she's offended or upset and doesn't know what to do.

In the meantime, what do i/we do??? I've suggested more quality time just the two of them, but if I can't force that do I stop her going as much?

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 06/11/2023 10:38

flummingbird · 06/11/2023 08:28

I believe its causing rows because the adults don't know what to do and they're trying to fix it. Wife doesn't really want her there due to atmosphere, its her she won't speak to the most so she's offended or upset and doesn't know what to do.

In the meantime, what do i/we do??? I've suggested more quality time just the two of them, but if I can't force that do I stop her going as much?

I honestly don't know what to do and hopefully someone will be along soon but it's clear they can't be bothered/don't want her there and that she feels this.

You might need to spell it out to him that if he wants to keep a relationship with her long term, he needs to spend some quality time with her alone. It's not that long until she can decide if she sees him.

flummingbird · 06/11/2023 12:53

Hopeful bump for the lunchtime crowd...

OP posts:
NerdyBird · 06/11/2023 21:23

Was she involved in the wedding at all? And perhaps it's the finality of realising that you and her dad are not going to get back together now he is married to someone else.

flummingbird · 06/11/2023 22:30

She was only 2 when we split, I really don't think she remembers us being together at all. And yes, she was a bridesmaid at the wedding.

OP posts:
flummingbird · 07/11/2023 08:29

Has anyone got any advice on how to tackle this? She usually stays there 2 nights one weekend and 3 the next, I just don't know what to do in the immediate weeks to come. So i keep her woth me or send her? Should I be getting in touch with a child counsellor? She just says she doesn't know why she doesnt speak there and I don't want to keep asking the same questions and make her feel bad about it all, but I don't want her to feel rejected by not going there either. So difficult!!

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 07/11/2023 18:43

So i keep her woth me or send her?

How will ExH react if she doesn't go?

Should I be getting in touch with a child counsellor?

I think some therapy might be useful but if she's not speaking a talking type therapy might not work as well as Art or Play Therapy. I think you'd probably have to find this yourself though Flowers

flummingbird · 07/11/2023 20:59

He's doing a sort of hands in the air thing, it's causing him problems having her, his wife is offended, I think he'd rather she didn't go to be fair. But I don't want her to feel she's being pushed out.

Shes literally only not talking when she's in his house. She's fine and chatty the rest of the time, we live in a small city, only seem to be a small handful of therapists but I've emailed one today. Thank you for the replies...

OP posts:
Nelly44 · 07/11/2023 23:10

Dd coming back to you isn't going to solve the problems at dad's end. They need to be able to tolerate the distress they feel as this is how your dd is feeling inside. I don't think it's dd that needs counselling, dad and step mum need the support of how to connect eith dd again. The motivation needs to come from dad to start with increase more 1:1 time away from home, get her laughing and at ease and it'll soon translate to home.

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